Review: The Little Voice by Joss Sheldon

Published: November 2016

Pages: 172

Synopsis: “Can you remember who you were before the world told you who you should be?”

Dear reader,

My character has been shaped by two opposing forces; the pressure to conform to social norms, and the pressure to be true to myself. To be honest with you, these forces have really torn me apart. They’ve pulled me one way and then the other. At times, they’ve left me questioning my whole entire existence.

But please don’t think that I’m angry or morose. I’m not. Because through adversity comes knowledge. I’ve suffered, it’s true. But I’ve learnt from my pain. I’ve become a better person.

Now, for the first time, I’m ready to tell my story. Perhaps it will inspire you. Perhaps it will encourage you to think in a whole new way. Perhaps it won’t. There’s only one way to find out…”

Rating: ***

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The Little Voice by Joss Sheldon was well written and introspective. The narrative could almost be regarded as psychological with the egot representing the id (as coined by Freud). Freud believed that the id was part of our personality and the only one present from birth that controlled/dealt with our needs, wants, desires, and impulses, particularly our sexual and aggressive drives. I think The Little Voice is Joss Sheldon's attempt at personifying the id and making it a more accessible idea for readers.

There were lots of Lao Tzu quotes which gave the book a philosophical edge. Descriptions of various psychological experiments also gave the book a psychological slant, which I enjoyed as I had studied many of them while at university.

I would recommend The Little Voice to readers who like Paulo Coelho or other authors who's works can be classed as literary fiction with a philosophical or moral core. The Little Voice was well written and almost didn't read like fiction at all.